Latest news with #JonScheyer
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3 days ago
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Duke Basketball Makes Big Announcement on Tuesday
Duke Basketball Makes Big Announcement on Tuesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Duke Blue Devils dominated the ACC this past season under head coach Jon Scheyer in his third year at the helm. They finished with an impressive 35–4 overall record and went 19–1 in conference play, capturing both the ACC regular season and tournament titles before earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Advertisement However, their championship hopes were cut short after a heartbreaking second-half collapse against the Houston Cougars in the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. Looking ahead to next season, Duke will experience significant roster turnover. The Blue Devils are losing standout freshmen Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Khaman Maluach, along with veteran guard Tyrese Proctor — all of whom are heading to the NBA. Despite the departures, Scheyer has assembled one of the most talented rosters on paper. Incoming five-star recruits Cayden and Cameron Boozer, Dame Sarr, and Sebastian Wilkins headline the freshman class, while key returners such as Isaiah Evans, Caleb Foster, Patrick Ngongba II, and Darren Harris bring continuity. On Tuesday, Duke made a notable offseason announcement by unveiling jersey numbers for their 2025–26 roster, giving fans an early glimpse at what next year's team will look like. Fans reacted to some of the jersey numbers: Advertisement "We going all the way forreal this time!" A fan said. Someone else added, "New year new squad same goal." Another fan posted, "dame sarr #7 bouta look crazy." "Going to be weird to see a team with no jersey number above 21," one more fan commented. Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Donnan-Imagn Images Duke will open the regular season in the inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational, facing an early test right out of the gate against the Texas Longhorns. While the Blue Devils will be headlined by their highly touted freshman class, it may be the returning players who determine just how far this team can go. Their experience and leadership could be the key difference in turning Duke from a Final Four contender into a true national championship threat — something that was clearly lacking in their late-game collapse against a veteran Houston squad last season. Advertisement Related: Isaiah Evans Returning to Duke, Key Building Block for Jon Scheyer This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 days ago
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Jon Scheyer Sends Strong Message About Cooper Flagg Ahead of NBA Draft
Jon Scheyer Sends Strong Message About Cooper Flagg Ahead of NBA Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. With the NBA draft set for June 25 and 26, the countdown is officially on until former Duke Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg hears his name called as the No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks. Advertisement Ahead of the big night, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer joined "The Ryen Russillo Podcast" to discuss Flagg's mindset and the potential of how he might fit at the next level—particularly on a team already loaded with proven star veterans like Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and Anthony Davis. 'Cooper had as good and as special of a season as I've ever been a part of with any player," Scheyer said. "But he also had moments where things didn't go his way—when we lost, when there was heartbreak. And in those moments, there were no excuses, no finger-pointing. It was always, 'What does Cooper need to do better?' That's pretty old school, pretty special, and it's a big reason why he's going to be the No. 1 pick and why he'll be a great player for a very long time.' Scheyer continued, 'He's so unselfish—that's just his nature. He could've easily averaged 20-plus points this year. Going forward, I think he'll be just fine With his ability to shoot from three, finish at the rim, and create his own shot, I think he's going to become one of the best scorers in the NBA over time.' Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg and head coach Jon Scheyer© Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images Cooper Flagg was widely projected to be the No. 1 overall pick before he even stepped on the court at Duke—and somehow, he still managed to exceed the sky-high expectations that followed him from Newport, Maine, to Montverde Academy, where he was the top recruit in the Class of 2024. Flagg led the Blue Devils to both the ACC regular season and conference tournament titles, a Final Four appearance, and topped the team in nearly every major statistical category. His dominant season earned him a sweep of the sport's top honors, including the Wooden Award, Naismith Player of the Year, and both ACC Player and Rookie of the Year. Advertisement Related: Duke Basketball Makes Big Announcement on Tuesday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
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Cayden, Cameron Boozer Join Exclusive Duke Club Before Freshman Season
Cayden, Cameron Boozer Join Exclusive Duke Club Before Freshman Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It's been 23 years since Carlos Boozer was a household name for Duke basketball. His college career ended in 2002 before he was selected 35th overall by Cleveland in the 2002 NBA Draft. Advertisement Now his sons, Cameron and Cayden Boozer, are ready to carry on the family legacy at Duke under head coach Jon Scheyer. After a 35-4 season and a trip to the Final Four, the Blue Devils are looking to build on that success. Duke has big shoes to fill after losing top prospects like Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel. But if anyone can reload quickly, it's Scheyer and his staff. As the summer heats up and the 2025-26 season draws closer, all eyes are on the Boozer twins. Duke Basketball on Thursday showcased them, featuring them on the cover of 'SLAM' magazine, captioning the post: "The Brotherhood been doing SLAM covers since flip phones 📞📘👀😈." The twins now share 'SLAM' cover status with Duke legends like Cooper Flagg, Paolo Banchero, Jayson Tatum, R.J. Barrett, Zion Williamson, Marvin Bagley III, Jabari Parker and Kyrie Irving. The magazine also featured icons like coach Mike Krzyzewski, Johnny Dawkins, Jon Scheyer, Jay Williams, Shane Battier, Bobby Hurley, Carlos Boozer, Grant Hill and JJ Redick in a Duke tribute montage. Advertisement Every one of those players made a major mark at Duke, and in the NBA, and Cameron and Cayden now step into that brotherhood with hopes of doing the same. McDonald's All Americans forward Cameron Boozer and guard Cayden BoozerPamela Smith-Imagn Images Cameron Boozer was one of the top high school players in the country. A five-star recruit, he was named Gatorade National Player of the Year in both 2023 and 2025. As a sophomore, Cameron averaged 21.1 points and 11.2 rebounds per game and earned Florida's Mr. Basketball honors. During the 2023 FIBA U16 Americas Championship, he averaged 16.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, helping Team USA demolish Team Canada by 82 points in the gold medal game. Advertisement Cayden Boozer was also a five-star recruit, with offers from Miami and Florida, but chose to join his twin at Duke. While not as dominant a scorer, he's a true facilitator. Cayden dished out 7.6 assists per game in high school and played in the McDonald's All-American Game. He also suited up for Team USA in the FIBA U16 tournament, contributing 7 points per game while playing a key role as the team's lead guard. Known for blending basketball with hip-hop culture, 'SLAM' magazine has been publishing since 1994. Larry Johnson of the Charlotte Hornets was featured on the first cover. Since then, LeBron James has appeared on more 'SLAM' covers than any other athlete, with 27. Landing the cover is a rite of passage for elite prospects, and it's a strong signal that the Boozer brothers are not just future college stars, but potential NBA names to remember. Advertisement Related: John Calipari Makes Feelings Clear on Knicks Head Coach Vacancy Related: Duke Basketball Reveals Big News on Defending National Champions This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
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4 days ago
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Duke Makes Move for No. 1 Center in Class of 2027
Duke Makes Move for No. 1 Center in Class of 2027 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. As summer moves along, we're inching closer to the start of the 2025-26 college basketball season. Recruiting never stops as coaches begin connecting with players from the class of 2026 while getting a feel for the class of 2027 and identifying long-term targets to build their rosters around. Advertisement College basketball is constantly evolving, but landing elite recruits remains crucial to building a successful program. That's exactly what Jon Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils are aiming to do as they continue reloading after recent roster changes. On Monday, one of the top prospects in the 2027 class made headlines. "Duke has reached out to 2027 5 Obinna Ekezie Jr. (@ObinnaEkezieJr). He is the #1-ranked center in his class! Per @recruitszone. Ekezie Jr., a 7-foot center and five-star prospect, plays for Prolific Prep in Napa, California, one of the top high school basketball programs in the nation. Advertisement A year ago, Kelvin Sampson and the Houston Cougars were among the first to offer him a scholarship. At that time, both Cal and Stanford had already extended offers to the talented big man. Since then, he's picked up offers from Maryland, BYU, Miami, Virginia and Cincinnati, adding to an already impressive recruiting profile that's drawing national attention. Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer makes move for no. 1 center in class of Pendleton-Imagn Images Ekezie Jr.'s father, Obinna Ekezie, played college basketball at the University of Maryland and was selected 37th overall in the 1999 NBA Draft before playing internationally. Recently, Ekezie Jr. participated in the NBPA Top 100 Camp in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Playing for Team Jones, he averaged 7 points, 3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game over three contests, showcasing his defensive instincts and raw potential. Advertisement With Jon Scheyer continuing to make big moves on the recruiting trail, Duke is clearly targeting elite size and skill early in the 2027 cycle, hoping to stay ahead in the ever-competitive ACC landscape. Related: Cooper Flagg Sends Message to Kon Knueppel Before NBA Draft Related: Cayden, Cameron Boozer Join Exclusive Duke Club Before Freshman Season This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
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4 days ago
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Duke Blue Devils Reveal Michigan State News on Tuesday
Duke Blue Devils Reveal Michigan State News on Tuesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The 2025-26 Duke Blue Devils are going to look like a brand-new team when they take the court this fall and into the winter. While the jersey colors remain the same, the players wearing them will be completely different. Advertisement Gone are Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach and several others. It's a new era in Durham, and Jon Scheyer is focused on getting the Blue Devils back to the NCAA Final Four. As the roster continues to take shape, so does the schedule. On Tuesday, Duke announced another marquee non-conference showdown. 'schedule update --> got MSU in East Lansing.' When Duke travels to East Lansing to face Michigan State, it will mark the 19th meeting between the two programs since 1994. The Blue Devils have dominated the series, winning 15 of the previous 18 matchups. The most recent meeting came on November 14, 2023, at the Champions Classic in Chicago. Duke won that game 74-65 and has now won the last two meetings against the Spartans. Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Donnan-Imagn Images The last time these two teams played in East Lansing was during the 2019-20 season. Duke won that contest 87-75. Advertisement Michigan State is led by Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo, who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. Izzo has 737 career wins and one national title. Under his leadership, the Spartans have reached the final four eight times, and he's been named NABC Coach of the Year twice. In 2024-25, Duke finished 35-4 and fell to Houston in the final four by a score of 70-67. Michigan State made it to the Elite Eight but was eliminated by Auburn 70-64. The Spartans finished the season with a 30-7 record. Related: Duke Makes Move for No. 1 Center in Class of 2027 Related: Cooper Flagg Sends Message to Kon Knueppel Before NBA Draft This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
